NFF To Advertise For Vacant Positions; Take Blame For U17 World Cup Ouster, Reveals U20 Women's World Cup Challenges

Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick on Monday morning revealed that the NFF will advertise for key coaching and administrative positions that are vacant, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.


Recently head coach of the Nigerian women senior national team, Super Falcons, Thomas Dennerby, quit his job citing interference in the discharge of his duties.

"Very soon, we will be advertising some key positions in the NFF. 1. Head Coach for the Super Falcons, 2. Head of Women's Football, 3. Chief Compliance Officer, 4. Head of Commercial services," the NFF boss stated.

Speaking on the court victory that absolved the NFF chieftains of any wrongdoing after allegations of financial impropriety, Pinnick graciously said the court victory was not for the much vilified NFF officials.

"This is not a personal victory for me and my other board members. It is victory for all of Nigerian football. We have always maintained our innocence at the NFF and laid our books bare for everyone to see.

"We have always published our accounts using some of the best auditing firms in the world. I am happy those toxic moments are over and now it is time to pull and work together, not pull apart," Pinnick stressed.

On the subject of Nigeria hosting the FIFA U-20 Women World Cup in 2020, Pinnick casts doubt on the readiness of the country to meet up FIFA's demands for a good tournament.

 "We have some challenges with meeting up with some of FIFA's demands.

"They(FIFA) have been magnanimous with us but we need more training sites and realistically it will be very tough for us to meet this."

Pinnick who was the first vice president of the Confederation of African Football was asked about the Round of 16 exit of the Golden Eaglets at the ongoing 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Brazil.

 "I take responsibility for the team's performance in Brazil. However, there are positives for us to build on and areas to correct as well. We have an efficient grassroots programme in place.

" The Zenith Bank /Future Eagles project at U13 and U15 levels, which we must continue to improve. Let's not also forget that these competitions are mainly developmental so it's football, we win some and lose some," Pinnick noted.

Pinnick then cleared the air on the working relationship between the NFF and the sports ministry.

"On the relationship with the Sports Ministry: We have a wonderful relationship with the Ministry. The Sports Minister has been so supportive and he has also consistently kept us on our toes to do the right things at all times.

"The Government is a key partner of Nigerian football and our working relationship with them must be very cordial if we want to make progress," Pinnick concluded.

Izuchukwu Okosi